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Fairfield Texas

Members of the Trinity Star Arts Council (TSAC) accepted a $500 Cherokee Maiden donation from Chris Christensen Systems for their upcoming musical, The Cindy Walker Songbook. The production will showcase over 20 songs written by Walker, a native of Mexia, who was often called the 'greatest songwriter of country music.' The musical tribute is slated for May 19-20 at Teague High School theater. For tickets and more information, visit www.trinitystarartscouncil.org. Pictured (front) Operations Manager Jennifer Davis, TSAC member Janie Richards, TSAC member George Boyd, and TSAC member Jeff Harrison; (back) TSAC members Jane Morrison and Rachel Bossier.
Photo by April Walker

You Don't Know Me: The Cindy Walker Songbook, anew and original musical tribute to the country songwriter, will be performed for the first time onstage at the Theatre at Teague High School May 19-20. Making its debut, the show, created by Jeff Harrison and produced by Trinity Star Arts Council, will be directed by George Boyd. Featured will be Harrison’s band accompanying vocal artists from the area.

A civil suit citing racial discrimination and wrongful termination was filed April 12 by a former employee of the county clerk's office. Dianne Manning, former chief deputy, filed the petition against County Clerk Linda Jarvis and a hearing is slated for Wednesday, May 9, in the 87th District Court. The petition is to investigate claims for depositions to see if there is sufficient evidence for a lawsuit.

Jarvis said she had no comment on the matter Monday morning and Dianne Manning was unavailable for comment.

87th District Court Judge Deborah Oakes Evans recused herself from the case. Judge Dwight Phifer, senior judge of the 2nd District Court in the 10th Administrative Judicial Region, has been assigned.

Fairfield City Council members discuss firing City Administrator Jeff Looney at Tuesday night's meeting. Looney is seated at the table to the left with City Attorney Linda Sjorgren.
Photo by April Walker

After one four hour executive session in which councilman voted to keep Fairfield City Administrator Jeff Looney, councilmen voted 3-2 last night to fire him. Place 1 Councilman/Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Lee Kirgan and Place 4 Councilman Landis Bayless voted against the firing, while Places 2, 3, and 5 chose to fire him.

After allegations of workplace abuse surfaced against the man public outcry was made to have him removed from the position. An unknown citizen began circulating a petition after the first meeting on April 24.

City Secretary Misty Richardson and Public Works Director Clyde Woods filed formal complaints against Looney. An Open Records Request for those complaints has not yet been answered. Looney worked for the City of Fairfield since 2009 as city administrator.

The full story will be published in the May 10 edition of the Recorder. Make sure you pick up a copy!

Native Citizen of County Dies Tuesday – Henry York, 61, lifelong resident of this immediate section died Tuesday. Burial was in Steward's Mill cemetery Wednesday afternoon under direction of Burleson Funeral Home, after religious services conducted by the Rev. H.L. McKissack. Near surviving relatives are three children, Mrs. Irene Beck of Houston; and Edward York in the armed services; two sisters, Mrs. Madison Henderson and Mrs. Wealthy Smith of Fairfield; and a brother, Jim York of Fairfield.

I had predicted that when the Mayor, City Administrator, and the Cartel had changed everything up on Market Days that it would truly be a big flop. They felt like if they got rid of my wife as Market Days Coordinator that I would quit writing to the editor. I truly feel like they did not like to hear the truth about our city business.

*The headline "Teague to end 30-year agreeement with Fairfield" in this week's Recorder was misleading. It should have read "City of Teague researches agreement with Fairfield."

Teague's Board of Alderman received information on April 16 from Teague City Administrator Theresa Prasil that City Attorney Linda Sjogren, attorney for Bojorquez Law Firm in Austin, wants to address the council to present them with a new Interlocal Definitive Agreement for Teague to step out of a new bond that the City of Fairfield wants to take out.

A public information meeting is slated for Fairfield residents after testing showed "low concentrations of dry cleaning solvents in groundwater believed to originate from a former dry cleaner business" near Fairfield property at 402-418 E. Commerce Street in Fairfield. The meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at the Community Center in Fairfield.

Michael Whitehead, of Whitehead Environmental Services, says this is not uncommon. "It's very common in Dallas, Houston," he said. "There have been thousands of these in Texas. It's been there for years and nobody knew."

Whitehead also said the solvents are not in the drinking water. "It's just in the groundwater, which is about 200 feet deep. This meeting is just to get to the next stage of the process for TCEQ to come in and they will decide if it's any hazard."

Fairfield students enjoyed a night of dancing at the junior-senior prom held Saturday, April 21. Pictured are Adri Moore, Rachel Chavers, Lucas Porter, and Christina Ferguson. See more prom photos throughout this week's paper.

Fairfield senior Brittani Oglesbee (center) was awarded 2nd place in the DAR Good Citizens contest. She is pictured with chapter member Pat Wiggins (left) and Registrar Billie Bournias (right).
Courtesy photo

The Jonathan Hardin Chapter of the DAR had a full agenda at the April 14 meeting. In addition to the regular meeting, program, and Good Citizen and Scholarship awards, Diana Pagett McDonald presented winners of the annual DAR American History Essay contest.

The Jonathan Hardin Chapter encourages students from 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in Limestone and Freestone counties to participate in the American History Essay contest. Students in a public, private, and parochial school, or those who are home schooled are eligible. The title of the 2018 essay is “World War I: Remembering the War to End All Wars.”

The students were given the following information with which to write their essay: